I just invested in a SOIC8 chip clip from farnell so that I can program soic chips in circuit, well guess what ? whaaaaa! it don't make contact ! Are these things really supposed to work ? I tried it on a board with a chip on it: nothing, so thought ok maybe my bad hand soldering, So I got a brandnew chip and tried putting it in as far as I could: still nothing.

So conclusion ? the clips a waste of money (and they don't come cheap the 8 pin one was like £16) and make damn sure you put a ISP header on your board. Of course if you want to debug just hope you have a damn steady hand

3M used to be associated with real good quality stuff so it is surprising it did not work.

I do like your idea of using a clip for ICSP, I too have a design where the usual header gets in the way as it is meant to be a replacement "chip" that replaces an unobtanium device - ie clearance above the board and beneath does not really allow the luxury of normal pin headers.

I also note the pins brought out on the clip are flat and square.I found these were very painful to use when probing with a logic analyser. You could get ones with round pins and a mushroom top. If you cut the mushroom off your logic analyser probes would push straight one, albeit one side used to be a bit short. Mind you, that was with 0.1" pitch units, the 0.05" pitch would not allow that unless they staggered the pins to allow space for the nominal 0.1" diameter analyser probe inputs.

I would think that Farnell would accept this as faulty, they are pretty good in that regard, especially as it is not a electronic device so it's a bit hard to blow up!

3M used to be associated with real good quality stuff so it is surprising it did not work.

Aye, there were some 3M DIP clips in the bundle of bits that came with my logic analyser and they're far superior to any of the others in the bunch. Would definitely have been my first choice were I to buy some more clips, so hopefully Simon just got a duff one somehow!

I remember seeing something like that where I used to work but I've never used it.

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Yea I plan on getting it returned. My plan was to be able to clip to the chip on the pcb and program it rather than have the header.

I don't see the need for any headers. All you need to do is fit the MCU first, tack some fine enamelled wire on to the parts of the circuit required for programming, program it, remove the wire and solder on the rest of the components. A headers only a good idea if you plan to reprogram it. You do normally need to design your circuit so ISP is possible but you can probably do it without any modifications to the original design if you program it before fitting the other components.

well i hoped to be able to reprogram a chip if need be, being soic chips I still needed an adaptor to program them so thought getting the clip was better than the socket as I can use the clip for reprograming as well as first time in circuit programming rather than buying to bits of kit or having to program before soldering and then lump it. Looks like the easiest option is an ISP header.

I;ve used these a lot and they work fine once you trim the tips down a bit - the plastic seperators between the pins get wider towards the tip the idea being this helps hold them on the chip, but in practice they often hold the contacts away from the chip pins, reducing conntact pressure. just take a sharp knife and trim as shown by the orange line :

A squirt of flux cleaner before clipping on also helps improve contact.

well on a new chip there should be no problem anyway ? looking at it the slots might need cutting through, so that the clip can drop lower on the chip. the problem is that the metal contact just don't reach down to the pins

The below is the backward and forward of emails since the item was returned, to be honest they don't look like they really care

Dear Launa

As a professional Quality control inspector I'm appalled by the situation you are still in. People reported issues with this product on YOU OWN BLOG ( http://www.element-14.com/community/message/23661 ) over 4 months ago and the item is still for sale ! I bought the item 3 months after the issue was reported.

As for your "investigation": "we will investigate" WHAT you mean you have not investigated yet ?

You still have a 100nF capacitor for sale that went out of production and stock over a year ago and it still shows up as a product you have specially selected to tell me about just because I bought a few when they were going for a good price as they were being "ditched", so really, the better Farnell tries to look the more foolish it looks, just worry about supplying quality products and let THE engineers do the rest !

I'll just learn my lesson and be very wary of anything I buy from farnell that is more than a simple electronic part and perhaps remember that there are other suppliers out there.

Kind regardsSimon

> Good afternoon Simon,> > The collection has been arranged from the address you have stated below.> > Your comments and feedback have been forwarded to the relevant departments and we will investigate this internally.> > We will take the neccessary measures and procedures should this part need to be removed from our range.> > Kind regards,> > Launa>> Launa Gallagher> Customer Support Team, Farnell> [email protected]> T: +44 (0 )8447 11 11 13 [Ext. 1733]> F: +44 (0) 8447 11 11 12> www.farnell.co.uk>> A Premier Farnell Company>> > From: Simon > Sent: 07 February 2011 17:20> To: Support-UK> Subject: Feedback from: Simon Turner>> Hello Jonny,>> Many thanks for your speedy reply. Please ensure pickup is made from: Gallay limited, Patterson road, Wellingborough, northants, NN8 4BZ. the driver will need to ask for Simon Turner. I would also like to know what action is being taken on this product, why is it still for sale ? will it be taken down and recalled ? many other people have this item and are complaining on your own blog. but I see the item still for sale.>> Kins regards> Simon>>>>>> Dear Simon,>>>> Please accept our apologies that the part received did not make your expectations. I have arranged a return and collection request, if you could please parcel up the non working item with a copy of the original despatch note inside and then please mark the outside of the returns number with the following returns number: 2462762. I have arranged a UPS collection and they will collect within the next 48 hours, once this has been processed through our returns department a credit will be applied to your account.>>>> Please don’t hesitate to contact us if you have any further queries.>>>> Many thanks and kind regards>>>> Jonny>>>> Jonny O'Carroll>> Customer Support Team, Farnell>> [email protected]>> T: +44 (0) 8447 11 11 13 [Ext. 1762]>> F: +44 (0) 8447 11 11 12>> www.farnell.co.uk>> A Premier Farnell Company>>>> -----Original Message----->> From: simon>> Sent: 07 February 2011 12:49>> To: Support-UK>> Subject: Feedback from: Simon Turner>>>> email: simon>> realname:>> FirstName: Simon>> Surname: Turner>> ac_number: 954353>> Telelephone: 07757386042>> Order_Ref: 98033842>> PO_Number:>> Issue: Returns_Queries>> My_Issue: I have orderedand received a soic8 test clip your part number 178278. I am extremely disatisfied with this product as it simply does not work ! >From what I can tell the contacts in the clip are too short to meet the pins of the IC. I am discustedand appalled that this item is even sold. Your own element14 "blog thing" has a discussion on this very product and the fact that it is useless. I would like to return the item for credit. Please let me know what I should do. Kind regards Simon>>>> submit_x: 73>> submit_y: 3>> submit: submit